watkins



3 Sheets-Shet 1.

(No Model.)

` A. WATKINS.

SPRING MOTOR.

No. 309,901. Patented Deo. 30, 1884.

(No Model.) s sheetssheet 2.

' A. WATKINS.

SPRING MOTOR. No. 309.901.

Patented Deo'. 30, 1884.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet -3.

` A. WATKINS.

SPRING MO'IUR.

Patented Deo. 30, 1884.

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ALEXANDER W'ATKINS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNO'R TO THE SELF ACTING SEVING MACHINE COMPANY, (LIMITED) OF SAME PLACE.

SPRING- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,901, dated December 30, 1884.

Application filed April It 1"??4.

To al whom/ may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Wmrknvs, asubjeet of the Queen of England, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spiing-llfotors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improved apparatus in combination with any sewing-machine, whereby by the reaction of a spring or springs, after winding up, the said sewing machine may be rendered self-acting at a uniform and regulated speed, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure lis a sideelevation of my improved spring-motor connected to and driving a sewing-machine. Fig. 2 shows au alternative form of motor, in which a tapered forln of spring is used, so as to dispense with the parabolic drum. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the motor-gearing. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are a side elevation, end elevation, and plan, respectively, of the instantaneous brake. Figs. 7 and S are part sectional and end elevations, respectively, of my centrifugal regulator. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the motor, showing the over-winding and overrunning-down stops in position. Fig. 10 is a detail of the overwindingstop, and Fig. 11 is a detail of the overrunning-down stop.

Like letters referto similar parts in each of the different figures.

A, Fig. 1, is the base plate or board ou which the sewing-machine rests,'underneath which plate the driving apparatus is inclosed within a box or casing, (only partially shown in the figure.)

B is a shaft, on which is a pinion, C, gearing with a wheel, D, on the axis of the parabolic spiral E, to which is connected one end of a line or chain, F, the other end of which is fixed to a block or solid cylinder of wood, G, mounted so as to turn in journals, and having a shaft, H, on which is fixed the roller with flanges, (shown by dotted lines,') to which are fastened one end of each of the volute springs I I, the other end of each spring being fastened to the back of the box or casing, or to a horizontal baror rod provided with suitable hooks for the purpose.

No model.)

By means of the foregoing arrangement of parts, on applying a key to the square end of the shaft B the parabolic spiral will be turned on its axis, and thereby caused to take up the line or chainV F as it is unwound from the block or solid cylinder G, which will be turned so as to give motion to the roller with its iiauges, to which one end of each spring I is be simultaneously wound up, the requisite amount of mechanical force being thus stored up in readiness to work the machine by the gradual reaction of the springs I I through the gearing, by which motion is conveyed from the parabolic spiral to the main shaft of the'machine. This gearing consists of the toothed wheel J, working in the pinion K, on the shaft of which is the wheel L, working in the pinion M, the shaft of which carries the wheel N, which transmits' motion to the pinion O on the driving-shaft I? of the machine, thereby giving motion to the several working parts of the sewing-machine. 'U is the ily-wheel for equalizing the momentum of the moving parts. The brake, Figs. 4, 5, and l (i, is a band, Z, pressing the shaft 11 operated l by the leverj, pivoted on pin 7.2. It will thus be seen that by periodically winding up the l springs the combined machine can be made to perform the work of a sewing-machine, the speed of which can be regulated as required by the following means, as illustrated in Figs. S and 9.

My regulating device consists of one or a number ot' hollow arms or tubes, Q, projecting radially from a boss, R, the said boss beshafts of the motor mechanism, preferably on the one revolving at the highest speed.

Each radial tube Q contains a spiral sp1-i ng, S, made :fast by solder or otherwise at the inner end ofthe tube, and provided at its onteiend with a weighted pad or foot, T, wholly or in part of metal, soldered fast or other wise sliding freely within the outer end of the tube, so as to project therefrom under centrifugal force when the tube revolves with the shaft. rI he spring may instead be loose, with a heavyr ball or sliding weigh-t behind its inner end,

attached to the outer end of the spring, andV fastened, and thereby cause all the springs to ing keyed securely upon one ofthe revolving v fJi ished metallic faces.

connected with a pad or foot at the Outer end, will check the winding up at the desired point.

the escape of the spring being in this case prevented by an internal flange or collarat the outer end of the tube, screwed in or otherwise attached; and elastically-resisting material, or springs other than spiral springs, may be substituted for the lat-ter. When the machine is at rest, said pads or feet occupy their retracted positions. Under speed each pad or foot is projected more or less by centrifugal force against the retracting energy of its spring, and at a given speed comes in contact with the inner periphery of a non-rotary surrounding ring, V, held stationary with the framing of the machine, and by frictional coaction with the latter tends to confine the machine to this speed. The exterior surface of the radial feet or pads and the inner eircumference of the said ring may be covered, if desired, with wood, leather, or any other desirable substance, or they may have polrlhe external retarding ring V is preferably not a complete ring, but has its two extremities turned outward, as lugs 'v and o. Through these two lugs I pass a thumb-screw, X, tapped `into' the farther lug, o', with a collar upon its spindle pressing on the nearer lug, o, or fitted in any other known manner so that the lugs are drawn closer together, and the ring V thereby reduced in diameter when the thumb-screw is rotated in one direction, and, vice versa, the ring is expanded when the movement of the thumbscrew is reversed.

In order to insure that Vthe said external ring shall close in such a manner over the greater part of its circumference as to maintain its true circular shape, I may make the ring oi' varying section either as regards its width or thickness, so as to prevent distortion at those points nearest to the adj Listing-screw. This device enables the operator to Vary at will the maximum speed at which the retarding feet come into contact with the external ring by the opening` or closing of said ring, as described.

'Ihe rotating tubular arms may be inclosed by a suitable case, and the adjustable ring may beY attached thereto in such a way as not t-O interfere with its closing and expanding movement.

llast length of the chain as it is wound up upon the fusee, throws the upper end of the lever against a stop, w, on the winding-axle, which There is also a stop, Y, added to the machine to prevent the overrunning down of the chain. The last length of the chain as it unwinds from the fusee presses against the lever Y. working on a pivot, y, which, by the friction ofthe pad 1' on the fly-wheel U,st0ps the motor.

For quickly stopping the motor or checking the motion of the machine by hand, I add an instantaneous brake. (Shown in position in Fig. l and detached in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) This brake consists of ahorizontal lever, j, pivoted near one end by a vertical screw, and having at this end an upwardly-projecting'curved linger, Z, which coacts with the periphery of a brake wheel or flange, n, on the sewing-ma` chine shafts. For more permanently stopping or locking the machine when the drivingsprings are wound, a verti cal brake-screw, o, may press a pivoted brake-shoe, Vp, into holding contact with the same brake wheel or flange n, as shown in Fig. l.

I-Iaving now described my invention and the manner of its performance, be it known that what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a spring-motor, the combination of a spiral parabolic drum, E, and an elastic spring or springs, chain, and gearing, with a centrifugal and adjustable regulator, Figs. 7 and l), to produce uniform rotation upon the driven mechanism, the 'speed being adjustable at will, substantially as described.

2. In a spring-motor containing a spiral parabolic drum and chain, the combination, with a winding-shaft having a stop-lug thereon. of an overwinding stop, t, Figs. 9 and l0, constructed and arranged substantially as shown, for the purpose set forth.

3. Inaspring-motor containingaspiral par` abolic drum and chain, the combination, with the balance-wheel, of an overrunning-down stop, Y, carrying a friction-pad, fr, and operated by the chain on said drum, substantially as herein specified. Y

4. The combination of a spring-motor containing a spiral parabolic drum and chain, and provided with overwinding and overrunning-down stops, with a sewing-machine provided with an instantaneous brake, as illustrated by Fig. 1.

London, this 7th day of March, A. D. 1884.

ALEXANDER XVATKINS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM O. HEWLETT, SAMUEL P. XVILDING.

I OO 

